How’d you two crazy kids meet?” Brooke glances at me.

Brodie coughs and glares at his brother Weston. He’s definitely the more athletic of the two brothers, but Brodie is more handsome.

“At a party. I took one look at him and I was smitten.” It isn’t a complete lie.

“I’m surprised Brodie hasn’t brought you around before now.”

“I like to keep her to myself.” He shoots me a smile, and his brother shakes his head. He obviously knows how we met. It’s nice that he’s letting us have our little fake story. Not that I really care if Brooke knows the truth, but it’s nice that she doesn’t stare at me like some whore stripper looking for a handout.

“Is anyone planning a baby shower?”

Her question catches me off guard. Jenny is really my only friend and I had to leave her with the apartment, even though she told me not to worry about it. Michael agreed to move in with her. I don’t know if she’s really the type to throw a baby shower, though.

“Not that I know of. I can ask my friend Jenny. I honestly don’t think I need one at the rate Brodie is moving. He’ll have his or her wardrobe bought up until they graduate.”

Weston laughs, and Brodie narrows his eyes on me.

“Don’t give him shit.” She turns to Brodie. “I think it’s sweet that you want your baby to have the best of everything.” Brooke stares at her husband. “I’m sure you’ll be the same way when we start our family.”

His face pales and Brodie grins at him.

“Yeah, brother. When you gonna get started on a family? Better get busy. I want our kids to grow up together.”

“We haven’t discussed it, but I’d like to have my wife to myself for a few more years.” Weston brings her hand to his mouth and kisses her knuckles. The man obviously adores his wife.

“Want to enjoy your freedom.” Brodie mutters his response and chuckles at the same time.

A knock sounds at the door and Weston gives Brodie a devilish grin.

Brodie excuses himself and opens the door to two dudes. One of which I saw at the office. Jaxson, I believe.

“Aren’t you going to invite us in so we can congratulate you and the lady we all know nothing about?” They both walk past Brodie.

Weston grins his ass off.

Brodie comes to stand behind my chair, placing a comforting hand on either of my shoulders.

“Maxwell, Jaxson, meet April. There, you’ve met. Now get out.”

“Ouch.” Maxwell ignores him and holds a hand out to me.

“Isn’t she the client you had with you at the office last week?” Jaxson grabs a beer from the refrigerator like he owns the place and walks back over.

What am I getting myself into?

“Hey, I remember you. Weren’t you at—” Before he can say more, Weston smacks him in the gut.

Brooke tosses her napkin down on the table. “Okay, what’s going on?” She gives Weston a side eye that says he’ll be in trouble if he doesn’t tell the truth. As far as I’m aware, he did nothing wrong, but then again, I don’t remember a whole lot about that night other than I conceived a child.

“April’s an exotic dancer. I hired her for Weston but when I saw her I took her for myself. One thing led to another and now here we are. Happy now, assholes? You all have the full story.”

I want to crawl into a room somewhere and die.

Brooke looks across at me and then back at them. “Why was that a secret? You think I’d be mad that there were strippers at a bachelor party? Jesus.”

Weston shrugs and Maxwell and Jaxson look embarrassed. I think they all like to give each other shit, but this time maybe they went too far.

“Well this was fun, but I’m calling it a night.” Brooke leans over the table and stares at me.

She looks kind of evil and I don’t think I want on her bad side.

“Don’t take any shit from these boys.” She glares back at all of them. “We’ll do lunch soon. I’m throwing you the best baby shower Dallas has ever seen. It was nice to meet you.” She stands up and points a finger at the rest of them. “Do whatever you want at the office, but stop being dicks or I’ll chop them off. Understood?”

“Yes, ma’am,” they all say in unison.

“What I thought.” She stalks out of the room with Weston following behind.

I try to hide my smile, but it’s impossible. I like her.

* * *

Lying in a bed across the hall from Brodie’s room, I feel a bit like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman.

Maybe it won’t be so bad after all. Brooke seemed awesome. She didn’t seem to judge me at all. That’s the thing. None of them really seemed to judge me, other than the guys giving each other shit, which is normal for guys I guess. I wonder if Brodie is embarrassed by it. He seemed hesitant to tell Brooke. Maybe he thought I’d be uncomfortable with her knowing?

I’m so out of my element. I grew up in bad neighborhoods, and now I’m in a penthouse apartment that probably cost more than I could make in five lifetimes.

I don’t want to mooch off Brodie and hope he meant it when he said he wants to invest in my business and be partners.

Brodie is complex and confusing. One minute he talks about wanting to be my friend, and the next he looks at me as though he wants to devour me.

Attraction and chemistry is there. I can see it in his eyes when we talk. He stares at my lips. Most men go straight to my tits or my ass but not him. I’m still coming to terms with the fact that I agreed to this insane arrangement.

Am I supposed to live with him for the next eighteen years? Or eventually, once the baby comes and I’m back on my feet, will he let our child and me move into a home of my choosing? I don’t want to spend my life chained to a man who won’t love me. Sure, being taken care of sounds nice but I’ve only been here for a few days and I’m already lonely even though he’s across the hall.

Jenny drove me crazy at times, but I miss her. I’m so used to sharing my day with her.

Picking my cell phone up from the nightstand, I snap a picture of my new bedroom.

April: Can you believe this room?

Jenny: No wonder you moved out! Did you decorate or was it already like that?

April: Brodie asked me my favorite stuff a few days ago and today it was like this. I’m seriously crushing on him. I don’t know what to do. He says he wants to get to know me and be my friend, but when he looks at me I swear he wants more.

Jenny: Well you have eighteen years to make him fall in love with you.

April: HA! Funny.

Jenny: Just saying ;)

April: You suck.

Jenny: Michael says I’m good at sucking :p

April: TMI – BTW have you told your folks he’s moving in?

Jenny: Pfft no. You know how crazy they are.

April: True… I’ll talk to you later…Brodie just knocked on my door…

Jenny: Don’t leave me hanging too long. I’ll come see you soon. Promise. I need to see your sugar daddy lifestyle in person.

Ugh! I do not have a sugar daddy. I shake my head and pad across the floor to the door.